Snake Facts

7 Cool Snake Facts

To some, snake facts come down to this: snakes are creepy and to be avoided at all costs. To others, however, snakes are beloved and unique pets. Some people have a fascination with this creature and when you take a little time to learn a few facts about snakes, it is easy to see why.

King Cobras and Birds

If you don’t think that King Cobra snakes and birds have anything in common, then think again. While most snakes do not do anything in the way of caring for their “family”, the King Cobra actually builds a nest using some of the same materials used by birds to complete the same task.

While many people have seen how birds gather the materials in their mouths, few can say that they have witnessed the King Cobra gathering leaves and other materials with her body.

Not Gluttonous

No one can accuse snakes of being gluttons. In fact, one of the most interesting snake facts is that most snakes can go without eating for several days, or even longer. People who own pet snakes feed them as infrequently as once per month. Some snakes can go as long as six months without a good meal.

Flying Snakes?

Can some snakes really fly? Sort of. They cannot really fly, but they can sort of soar through the air. Still, this is pretty impressive considering that they can “fly” as far as 350 feet!

Big Mouth

While many people have tried to shove way too much food into their mouths at once, the human anatomy hinders them. That is because the human jaw is hinged and will only open so far. A snake’s jaw, however, has no such limitation. Its mouth can just swing wide open, allowing it to swallow a meal that would appear much too large for them to eat.

The Black Mamba

This is one snake that you are unlikely to choose as a pet. There are a few good reasons for this. One, it would be illegal to own this snake, and with good reason. In addition to being one of the fastest snakes on the planet (it is able to reach speeds of up to 12 miles per hour), it is also one of the most dangerous. If you are bitten by a Black Mamba, you are probably not going to survive. In fact, only about five percent of victims live to tell the tale.

The Big and Small of It

There are thousands of species of snakes. Each snake is unique in many ways, including size. The range of sizes is rather incredible. The longest snake is the Anaconda measuring in at nearly 40 feet long. The smallest, the Brahminy Blind, is a miniscule two inches.

They Smell with Their Tongue

That is how they smell for food and get a feel for their surroundings. If you have ever wondered why most snakes flick their tongues in and out, now you know.

While reading these interesting snake facts might not make everyone want to run out and get one as a pet, they will give some a deeper understanding of these often misunderstood creatures.